Improvement in parlor-skates



-H. L. TRUE.

PARLOR-SKATES. No.189,Z85. Patented Apri13, 1877.

INVENTOR WITNESSES N- PEfF-RS. PHOTUUTHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON, D. C

UNITED STATES PATENT Grrron. 1

HIRAM L. TRUE, OF MGOONNELLSVILLE, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN PARLOR-SKATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 189,285, dated April 3,1877; application filed March 3, 1877.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM L. TRUE, of

of a longitudinal vertical section of my invention, and Fig. 2 is across-sectional view there- 0 This invention has relation toimprovementsin roller-skates; and it consists, first, in a skate having a singletransporting-wheel of sufiicient diameter, whereby the skater is able toguide himself to the right or left with great facility, and to makeshort turns, and the friction is reduced to a minimum; second, in thenovel construction and arrangement of two strong upright plates or barsextending above and below the shoe, the upper extension serving asankle-braces, and the lower one as bearings for the transporting-roller;third, in an adjustable shoe, vibrating on a rod or bolt between theuprights aforesaid, and capable of tipping backward and forward to allowof motion in the ankle-joint; fourth, in combining with a vibratingshoe, its uprights, and the bolt upon which the said shoe vibrates,ametallic plate, rigidly secured to the bottom of the shoe, havingseveral bearings for the bolt, whereby the latter may be shifted to thefront or rear in adapting the skate to feet of different lengths, andpreserving the proper center of gravity; fifth, in movable brakes,secured to the under side of the shoe in front and rear of the roller,which will be brought in contact with the periphery of the wheel bytipping the said shoe, thereby locking the roller, and quickly arrestingthe progress of the skater; sixth, in a detachable semi-annular metallicside brace, secured at its ends to the shoe, and at its central part tothe bearing-arm of the transporting-roller, whereby the shoe is made topreserve a rigid relation to the arms of the roller; and, finally, in anarched transverse the reception of the shoeheel, and around the rearedge a metallic guard, to, of the usual construction. B represents astrong metallic plate, rigidly secured to the under side of the shoe A,and provided with a numberof spaced transverse bearings, b 1) h in oneof which the journal-bolt c of the roller-skate will have.

its seat. This bolt extends at its ends through the upright (preferablymetallic) braces O G, and is secured in position by means of nuts d,tapped upon its projecting ends. Braces O O extend upward and downward asufficient distance above and below the shoe A, as shown in Fig. 2, toform lateral ankle-braces c and bearing arms 6 for the transportingroller D. In the drawings, bolt 0 is shown engaged in the middle bearing12 of plate B, but may be shifted to the front or rear, as may berequired for longer or shorter feet than common, in preserving a properbalance. E represents a suitable leather strap riveted to the upper endsof braces G O, and provided with a'suitable buckle, f, by means of whichit is bound around the leg above the ankle, thus converting the arms 0into braces for preventing the ankle from turning. The shoe A is securedto the foot by means of the usual toe and instep straps F F. It has freevertical vibration upon the journal-bolt c, and is provided upon itsunder side, in front and rear, with detachable brake-shoes g, which, bytilting the shoe, will come in contact with the periphery of roller D,and, by arresting its r0- tation, enable the skater to stop promptly.This tilting is prevented,if desired, by a semiannular metallic brace,G, arranged at each side of the skate, the ends of which are rigidlysecured to the shoe, and its lower central part to the arms a of bracesO 0 below the said shoe. The braces G are readily detachable by removingthe fastening-boltsr The transporting-roller is journaled in any"suita-.

blc manner in the lower ends of the arms 0' aforesaid, there being butone such roller, and

the arms are prevented from spreading, twisting, or any relative endwisedisplacement, by means of an arched transverse metallic brace, H,rigidly secured, by suitable nuts and bolts, to the said arms, andspanning the roller.

There being but one transporting roller,

turning short to the right or left is very easily. accomplished by theskater, thereby enabling .andthe transporting-roller D, of the shoehimto avoid collisions in a crowded rink,and to perform many gracefulevolutions, as well as attain great speed.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isy r 1-.Thecombination,with aparlor-skateshoe, having suitable fastenings, and acentral jour nal-bearing below said shoe, of a single roller, arrangedunder the hollow of the shoe, below the level of the same, substantiallyas specified.

2. The combination, with aparlor-skate shoe,

of a roller, D, which is adjustable to the front or rear, substantiallyas specified.

3. The braces O 0, extending above and below a skate-shoe, A, to formankle-braces c and bearings e for a roller, substantially as specified.

4. The shoe'plate A, having plate B, promy vided with spaced bearingsb 6W, in combination with braces O 0 andthe journal-bolt 12, substantiallyas specified.

5. The shoe-plate A, adjustable to front or rear, in combination withthe braces O O and the transportingroller D, substantially as specified.i l

6. The rocking shoe-plate A, in combination with .the braces Q 0, bolt0, and the transporting-roller D, substantially as specified.

7. The combination, with the braces O 0 plate A,'having'brake-shoesg,'and the journal-bolt c, substantially as specified.

8. The combination, with the braces O O, the shoe-plate A journaledtherein, and the transporting roller D, of the semi annular braces G,locking the said plate against vibration; substantially as specified.

9, The arched transverse brace H, incombination with the braces O G,shoe-plate A,

and rollerD, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses! i HIRAM L. TRUE.

Witnesses r p F. B; Pom), WILLIAM FOULKE.

oil's

